IFNA1 and systemic lupus erythematosus: However, the major allele of SNP rs12979860, which is located 3 kb upstream of the IFNλ3 gene, is a significant risk factor for LN in SLE patients, strongly predicts response to IFNα treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and influences ISG mRNA levels and IP-10 serum concentration (Bauer et al., 2009; Urban et al., 2010; Lagging et al., 2011).